books.google.comhttp://books.google.com/books/about/Illustrations_of_the_Literary_History_of.html?id=hdocAAAAMAAJ&utm_source=gb-gplus-shareIllustrations of the Literary History of the Eighteenth Century

Illustrations of the Literary History of the Eighteenth Century: Consisting of Authentic Memoirs and Original Letters of Eminent Persons; and Intended as a Sequel to the Literary Anecdotes, Volume 1(Google eBook)

Popular passages

Page 758 - But on he moves to meet his latter end, Angels around befriending Virtue's friend; Sinks to the grave with unperceived decay, While Resignation gently slopes the way; And, all his prospects brightening to the last, His heaven commences ere the world be past.

Page 224 - Ross," each lisping babe replies. Behold the market-place with poor o'erspread ! The Man of Ross divides the weekly bread : He feeds yon alms-house, neat, but void of state, Where Age and Want sit smiling at the gate ; Him portion'd maids, apprentic'd orphans blest, The young who labour, and the old who rest. Is any sick ? the Man of Ross relieves, Prescribes, attends, the medicine makes, and gives.

Page 594 - Good, to whom all things ill Are but as slavish officers of vengeance, Would send a glistering guardian, if need were, To keep my life and honour unassailed... Was I deceived, or did a sable cloud Turn forth her silver lining on the night?

Page 114 - ... an objection. Sometimes it is couched in a bold scheme of speech, in a tart irony, in a lusty hyperbole, in a startling metaphor, in a plausible reconciling of contradictions, or in acute nonsense : sometimes a scenical representation, of persons or things, a counterfeit speech, a mimical look or gesture passeth for it.

Page 113 - Sometimes it lieth in pat allusion to a known story, or in seasonable application of a trivial saying, or in forging an apposite tale ; sometimes it playeth in words and phrases, taking advantage from the ambiguity of their sense, or the affinity of their sound.

Page 658 - I remember you prophesied formerly that I should be a Chief Justice, or perhaps something higher. Half is come to pass : I am Thane of Cawdor, but the greater is behind ; and if that fails me, you are still a false prophet. Joking aside — I am retired out of this bustling world to a place of sufficient profit, ease, and dignity; and I believe that I am a much happier man than the highest post in the law could have made me.

Page 114 - It also procureth delight, by gratifying curiosity with its rareness or semblance of difficulty ; (as monsters, not for their beauty, but their rarity ; as juggling tricks, not for their use, but their abstruseness, are beheld with pleasure ;) by diverting the mind from its road of serious thoughts; by instilling gaiety and airiness of spirit ; by provoking to such dispositions of spirit in way of emulation or complaisance ; and by seasoning matters, otherwise distasteful or insipid, with an unusual,...